Japanese Invasion Money: World War Two Banknote Portfolio Album

In the period leading up to World War II, Japan’s intentions in the Pacific Rim nations were masked by the stated intent to free the area of European and American influences, the promise of promoting national independence and the development of a “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere”. The plan was welcomed in many areas that endured centuries of western colonial rule.  The replacement for the western influences was, of course, Japan’s influence. Support for the plan rapidly waned under the severe Japanese rule, and the emerging recognition that the occupied nations were to become simply the “southern resources area” for the Japanese military-industrial machine.   Immediately upon arrival Japan’s method of initiating control of the economies of the newly occupied territories was to replace the local currencies with new banknotes, prepared in advance, which are now referred to as  “Japanese Invasion Money”(JIM’s). The areas where JIM’s were issued included China (including Hong Kong),